Improvement in hames for harness



C. ROBINSON.

Hames for Harness.

Patented March 25, 1373.

JvzmezzZDr.

UMLQUQQ AQ ,7 v A, (if

AMPHOm-UTHDGMHI/C caux(ossoms.s moms) .7

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrron CLARK ROBINSON, OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAHMESFOR HARNESS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 137,241, dated March 25, 1873.

' To cl l whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK RoBrNsoN, of Eau Claire, in the county of 'Eau Claire and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness and do hereby declare that the followin g is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hame having attached thereto my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the attachments for the tugs and breast-straps.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to render the attachments of hames adjustable, in such a manner as to enable the latter to be fitted to any size of necks or to any requirements of draft; and, to this end, the said invention consists, principally, in the construction of the tug-clip attachment, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists further in the construction of the attachment of the breast-strap, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

In the annexed drawing, A represents a hame, provided at its lower end with a straplink, B, all of usual construction. Encircling the upper portion of the hame is a metal strap, 0, which, upon its outer side, is extended downward along the corresponding face of said hame, as shown, and within such extension is provided with two or more holes, 0, for the passage of the terret-bolt D, said bolt being provided with the usual threaded end, which iits into a corresponding opening in said hame, and enables said strap to be confined closely against the latter. By removing the terretbolt and raising or lowering the strap 0 until the former can be passed through another of the openings 0 into the hame, the distance between the upper and lower hame-straps can be varied so as to enable the size of the hame to be made to correspond to the neck of the horse upon which the same is used. The hame-strap is passed through the inward-projecting end of the strap 0, while a terret-rin g, d, fastened loosely within the end of the terret'bolt 1), furnishes a guide for the reins. Secured to or upon the outer and forward sides of the hame, at the usual point of at tachment for the tug, is a metal plate, E, which conforms to the shape of said sides, and at or upon its outer face is provided with a number of lugs, F, that extend horizontally and laterally outward from equidistant points between the upper and lower ends of said plate. From the rear side the ends of the lugs F curve outward and forward, while upon or within the front sides of each is provided a semicircular recess or notch, f, the object of which will be hereinafter explained. Upon the front side of the plate E, near its upper and lower ends, are provided two perforated lugs or cars, G, within which is journaled one side of a link, E, that has a general rectangular form in front elevation, and is so shaped as to enable it, when turned rearward, to conform to the general shape of said plate E, so as to cause the bar forming its outer vertical side to fit into the semicircular notches f.

The tug-clip I, having the usual form, is

hinged or pivoted upon the outer bar it of the link H, and, when the latter is in engagement with the lugs F, fits into one of the spaces be tween the same.

By throwing forward the outer side of the link the tug-clip can be raised or lowered so as to cause it to coincide with and lit into either of the spaces between the notched or recessed lugs, and the line of draft correspondingly changed.

In order that the accidental disengagement of the tug clip may be prevented, the upper end of the bar h, forming the inner side of the link H, is extended outward at an angle, and thence inclines downward and inward, as seen, so that at or immediately above the lower lug G the distance between said bar and the plate E is just equal to the diameter of the metal of which the breaststrap ring K is formed. From a point upon a line with the upper'edge of said lug Gr said bar h extends horizontally inward so as to form of the latter a crank-lever.

As thus constructed, the ring, when in po sition at the lower end of the space between the inner link-bar, perforated lugs, and plate, closely fills said space, and, operating as a lock, prevents said bar from turning rearward, so as to permit the outer side of said link to be moved outward.

hen it is desired to change the position of the hame-clip the breast-strap ring is raised until the link is released, when the desired adjustment may be readily effected.

By this construction and combination of parts a perfect adjustment of the size of the hames or of the line of draft may be effected, while the device forms apart of a harness, and is in use, while, as ordinarily constructed, the hames would require to be removed from the collar before any change could be made. Another advantage arises from the attachment of the upper hame-straps, as by the same said straps are caused to lie flat upon the collar instead, as is commonly the case, of being placed edgewise, so as to require twisting in order to enadhle them to conform to the position occup1e Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, that I claim as new 1s- 1. The plate E, provided with the recessed lugs F and perforated lugs or ears G, in combination with the link H andtug-clip 1, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the plate E, provided with the lugs F and perforated ears G, and with the link H, constructed as shown, and

hinged within said ears, the breast-strap ring K encircling the inner bar h of said link, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of December, 1872.

- CLARK ROBINSON. Witnesses:

J. F. ELLIs, M. P. Goonwrn. 

